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Message 1 - 193rd Field Ambulance

Posted on: 17 October 2005 by davidworkingforjack

I posted a reply to a message you left on a forum at ^{About links} on 14th October 2005 and as I see you are on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People's War I have sent my reply again in case you didn't go back to the forum. D. Pugh.

by Elsa Beattie
Does anyone know where 193 Field Ambulance R.A.S.C. served in North West Europe from 14.06.44 ? I'm trying to find out where my late father served during the war and finding no information anywhere. Be very grateful for any information.

Dear Elsa Beattie
I was interested to hear that your father served in the 193 Field Ambulance and wrote a poem about the 15th Scottish Division. My grandfather served in that Division as a rifleman the 8th Battalion Royal Scots (a infantry Division typically has 9 battalions split up into three brigades) and I would like to tell you that the 193 Field Ambulance played a valuable part in the 15th Scottish Division. Alongside 194 and 153 Field Ambulance the 193 no doubt treated wounded soldiers and ferrying them to the Field Dressing Stations of which the division had the 22nd and 23rd. It was marvellous services such as these that kept the Division working and its soldiers well treated. You must be very proud of your late father.

I don't know where exactly the division and the 193 FD was between June and November but I know from there on it fought in Holland firstly around Meijel, closed up to the River Maas and captured Blerick. It held the river maas for a month and in February 1945 made a push into Germany's Rhineland capturing Cleve and Goch. In March it made an historic crossing of the Rhine and spent the next month conquering enemy territory until it again met stiff resistance at Uelzen and crossing the River Elbe. When the war finished in May the Division remained in occupational duties for the next year until it was disbanded.

I have been researching the division because I am writing up my grandfather's memoirs but I am sorry to say I haven't found much out about the 193 F.A. and it is not mentioned much in the Divisional history (H.G. Martin's History of the 15th Scottish Division 1939-1945 Blackwood & Sons 1948 - a nice copy is available in the Imperial War Museum, London, Lambeth North)which focuses more on combat than the workings of its rear areas and ambulance services. I can't remember but I think I saw a diary for the 193 field ambulance listed in the archives of the National Archives, Kew Gardens, London. I'm sorry I can't be of more much help but if I find anymore I will let you know. Good luck with your research. Yours Sincerely, David Pugh.